The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-03
JAMES q. BLAINE.
His Habits of Life-The Campaign of 1884
He WIZ Do No Work Abroad.


He VIII Do No Work Abroad.
Interview in New York World.
ITO what do you attribute your good health?"
well, have a very strong constitution, and,
more than that have taken great care of my
self. believe l owe great deal to this. For
instance. have always been careful to keep dry
feet. Ihave no bad habits, and have never been
addicted to the use of stimulants. do not
smoke or use tobacco in any form; in fact, never
had piece of tobacco in my mouth. Inever took
stimulants; never was in the habit OF taking
glass of liquor. even occasionally. don't know
the taste of rum. whisky, brandy or gin. That
seems strange to you, doesn'tit! dare say ypu
could tell me good deal about liquors that
never expect to experience. have, to be sure,
at times taken a glass of claret, but nothing
more. AS matter OF fact, ! never cared tor
tobacco wines. although my boys all use
them"
"It has been frequently stated. Mr. Blaine.
that you have suffered from Indigestion"
mo, that is not true / have always been, as
they say. "a small eater l am not an epicure
and my diet is simple now as it was when |
boy a Pennsylvania farm. This fact,
as well as my not caring for wines or tobacco. is
no particular credit. because it is the result of
the lack of any desire for high living. never
cared for eating, and suppose my meals every
day are as simple those of any farmer in
Maine No. never was troubled with indiges-
ton at ALL When l have a great amount OF
work to do under pressure / eat heartily and
find that cold or hot tea, as the case may be. is
all the stimulant need. AS told YOU l have
always taken care of myself and avoided need
less exposure 1 believe that most troubles
come from carelessness and especially from wet
feet. Now I always carry pair of rubbers
with me and usually light and heavy over
coat. 1 have never been in the habit of taking
any regular kind of exercise at stated times or
anything of that sort. but walk good deal.
l think there were only two days all last winter
in which | was not out for walk. Those two
days cold and clustering and the snow
was so thick that for forty eight hours / could
the State house. which is only a stones
throw across the way We all stayed in the
house and lived what we had"
DO you find that your powers of mental and
physical endurance were impaired by the strain
of the last campaign
II think not For six weeks during my West
trip | did great deal of hard work. made
486 speeches in six weeks, and was travelling all
the time. My hardest day when l made
twenty nine stump speeches in one day Of
course the speeches were only from ten to twelve
or fifteen minutes in length, but such quantity
of them were harder than one or two long ones.
A short stump speech is more wearing than one
of An hour more because you must cut off all
introduction and condense a hundred facts into
ten sentences. Well, L Travelled through the
West for six weeks, and on Nov. b, two days
after the election, became convinced that Mr.
Cleveland was to be given majority of the cleo
toral votes. and began that day on my book. For
fourteen months | wrote fifteen pages of foolscap
manuscript every day. l felt no i'll effects from
the work of the campaign, and began Immediate
ly writing my book, without'feeling the need of
any rest whatever.
at took me about an equal time to write the
second volume of my book-a little longer. in
fact, because there some ten thousand
more words in Volume II. After I finished
ments, and have put them in shape and edited
them for publication. l have included in this
last compilation some matters outside which
had bearing on theI subJect-rnatter ana some
diplomatic correspondence which took place
while Secretary of State. All this work
has occupied me fully since the campaign. be-
lieye that mind agreeably occupied is about as
necessary good health anything else. A
dull or rusty mind, or one occupied with mat
tiers not to the taste. is n very bad thing"
Don't you consider that author Of books of
general in terest which are generally read by the
public, is in a sense public man|
Private life undisturbed by intrusion is one Of
the greatest privileges of American liberty. l
think man who is not before the public and is
a candidate for Office ought not to be followed
by the newspapers. have been importuned for
interviews, but l have opinions on public
questions and l make practice or avoiding
newspaper men. because my confidence has been
betrayed frequently and have been mis-
quoted and made to say things that l never did
say ana never thought As soon as man opens
his mouth to a reporter he is then In his power.
Now told you had nothing to say and would
not be interviewed public matters am
perfectly willing tell you for publication that
/ am going abroad and of my plans SO Tar as
made, If that is of any interest to you, and TO
tell you that my health is frst-rate and that
never felt better or stronger But DO positive
ly refuse to discuss political matters. further
than what little have said to you. il that can
be considered political. because am not before
the public and have opinions to express to
anybody. When man is not prominently be-
fore public there is very little interest felt in
him."
Take the case of Jefferson Davis, for OK
ample: he has been in the public eye for long
time and vet he is still person of interest" the
correspondent suggested.
s'Well. now, don't think For a man of
so great prominence he has almost entirely
fallen from view. don't know that any great
interest is felt in his movements now, and
have never heard that his book has had much
of sale"
Mr. Blaine, are you contemplating writing
another bookP
No"
1T has been suggested that you intend to